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New York Times
3 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
Senators GM Steve Staios doubles down on core with quiet start to free agency
OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators emerged from the opening day of NHL free agency having satisfied two major items on their offseason list. The first? Establishing and maintaining their salary cap flexibility, with over $5 million in remaining space, per PuckPedia. The second? Signing Lars Eller as their fourth-line centre and plugging a hole at the bottom of the forward corps. Advertisement A much quieter July 1 than last year, when they acquired Nick Jensen, Michael Amadio, Noah Gregor and David Perron. 'It was comforting going into this year, where we were looking for one specific area that if we could improve in it, we would,' Senators GM Steve Staios said Tuesday afternoon. 'We had our sights set on a certain individual, and it was Lars. If not, then we would've looked at other avenues to be able to do it. But we're excited to have him.' Staios spoke to the media moments after reports surfaced of Eller signing a one-year deal with the Senators. The deal has performance bonuses that will bring the max value of the contract to $2.25 million. It was Ottawa's biggest signing of the day. Staios made subtle tweaks to the roster as he said he would over the weekend, bringing back Nick Cousins and adding forward Olle Lycksell as depth. That came after the Sens re-signed Claude Giroux and added Jordan Spence via trade. Save for organizational moves in Belleville, that might be the full extent of Ottawa's shopping this offseason. Unless something drastic changes. 'I guess we'll see,' Staios said. 'Most likely not. We feel comfortable with where we are.' The Senators' relative lack of activity in recent days, at least compared to most other teams around the league, speaks to Staios' belief that his core can continue to progress as other rival teams take steps to either maintain their foothold in the playoffs or catch up. The pressure is on the roster to take that next step, mostly as currently constructed. 'We feel like we have a good plan in place for this group,' Staios said. '(We're) mindful of this group and their growth and their development. And I think it can't emphasize that enough. They are taking hold of it. The manager is there to support it and to make sure that you could add to where you need to add. The emphasis is on this group. Advertisement 'So, making additions is strategic to this group. I don't think that they need so much as the support around them to continue to grow and develop together.' It's consistent with how Staios has felt about the Senators at numerous times this season, even as concerns about their ability to score at five-on-five grew. Staios eventually addressed those concerns by acquiring Dylan Cozens and Fabian Zetterlund at the deadline, part of the overall changes in preparation for next year. 'It's been a little bit of a slow roll,' Staios said. But those changes come as his Atlantic Division foes have experienced significant movement. Yes, there's the Mitch Marner thing. But we're not talking about that here. And granted, it was difficult for many around the hockey world to keep track of the NHL's free agent news on July 1 as it came fast and furious. Even Staios wasn't up to date, for good reason. 'I haven't really seen what the other teams have done, and we're focused on what we're doing here, and we don't get distracted by what other teams are doing,' Staios said. Montreal traded for Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders over the weekend and added Zachary Bolduc and Sammy Blais for their fourth line. Detroit brought on John Gibson in the hopes of improving their goaltending. Boston acquired Viktor Arvidsson for a mid-round draft pick, in a type of deal that might have suited Staios, before adding Tanner Jeannot for their fourth line and signing Morgan Geekie long-term. Those are all teams that might fight Ottawa for a playoff spot come next April. The division still has Florida, Toronto and Tampa Bay at the top. But we don't expect that much of a drop-off for those three teams, especially since they each still possess elite players who can help power them through the regular season and beyond. Not to mention, each of those teams ended the season with better-ranked offences than Ottawa, whether overall or at five-on-five. Only two other Atlantic Division teams, Detroit and Boston, finished the regular season with fewer goals than Ottawa. Advertisement If the Senators continue to experience offensive woes, we'll go back to the offseason as an opportunity lost for Staios to improve his team. Signing Giroux back is a boost for the core as they lean on veterans in their transition. Expecting Zetterlund to produce more than he did in his handful of games with Ottawa could be a good bet. But that need for a top-six scorer still lingers. If that opportunity comes to accommodate said scorer, some cap space remains. The Senators won't have to worry about yo-yoing players back and forth from the NHL to the AHL in the name of saving money, as they did with Adam Gaudette, who will spend the next two seasons in San Jose. Having that $5 million plus in cap space is still a victory for the Senators on an otherwise quiet day. But if the right deal comes along, it's something they can tap into. 'Cap space is important moving forward,' Staios said. For now, Staios seems content with his core. The next step could even be a Shane Pinto extension, as Staios confirmed negotiations would be on the horizon. Staios' moves and words continue to affirm his belief in the core he's assembled. As was the case throughout the regular season, it's on the Senators to prove him right. (Top photo of the Ottawa Senators: Chris Tanouye / Freestyle Photography / Getty Images)
Ottawa Citizen
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Mixed emotions for P.E.I.'s Jordan Spence after trade to Ottawa Senators
Jordan Spence said he felt mixed emotions after learning he would have a new home for the 2025-26 NHL season. Article content The Los Angeles Kings traded Spence to the Ottawa Senators for a 2025 third-round draft choice and a sixth-round pick in 2026. Article content Article content 'Just being in L.A. for so long and them actually calling and telling me that I got traded, it was kind of just like a reality check on a lot of emotions that went through my mind,' the 24-year-old Spence told The Guardian in a phone interview on June 28. 'But, at the same time, I found myself (knowing) that it could happen after the season. So once that happened it was unfortunate, but, at the same time, I am really excited to be able to play in Ottawa now.' Article content Article content The five-foot-11, 192-pound Spence, from Cornwall, P.E.I., spent parts of the last four seasons with the Kings, who drafted the defenceman in the fourth round, 95th overall, in 2019. Article content Article content Spence became a regular in Los Angeles two years ago, recording 24 points in 71 regular-season games during the 2023-24 campaign and 28 points in 79 regular-season games this past season. Article content 'The past couple of years, I think I've showcased well, during the season to be able to play as a two-way defenceman,' said Spence. 'I've played power play and unfortunately, I did not really get to play penalty kill. Article content 'I just want to be the type of defenceman that can be relied on in all situations. That's my end goal, to be honest, and if I play my game, if I do well and, just really stick to what I can do on the ice, I think I can fit really well into their system and into their team.' Article content Article content Article content ADVANTAGES Article content Article content Article content Spence, although disappointed to be leaving Los Angeles, said there are advantages to the trade. Article content One is geographically as Ottawa is considerably closer to P.E.I. Spence joked he will now be back living through good old-fashioned Canadian winters after living in California. Article content 'At the end of the day, I'm still really excited to be going to Ottawa and having that opportunity to maybe play a bigger role,' said Spence, who was born in Australia. 'I just want to come to camp ready. I just want to have a big summer, work on the things that I have to work on, and then, just be ready to have a big season.'
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
With Kings' future on defense uncertain, which players could Los Angeles target?
LOS ANGELES – The way Ken Holland laid out how he'd have to address the defense corps, just weeks into his new job running the Los Angeles Kings, sure feels preemptive now. Holland embraced the uncertainty around Vladislav Gavrikov and Jordan Spence's futures with the club. It's almost as if he drew some initial sketches toward a plan, in case he didn't have one or both going forward. A sampling of what Holland said Wednesday before the NHL Draft: 'Defense is at the top of the to-do list.' 'I'd like to re-sign Gavrikov. If I don't, then I've got to go out and get a defenseman or two. Couple of vets, couple of pros.' 'The defense has got most of my focus.' Advertisement Get the picture? The mission was made clearer Saturday when Holland traded Spence to the Ottawa Senators for what amounted to three draft picks, after the Kings spun the third-round pick from the Senators into a deal with Carolina for a fourth-rounder in this draft (which became OHL center Jimmy Lombardi) and a 2026 third-rounder. They also added a 2026 sixth-round pick for Ottawa that originally belonged to Colorado. It comes as the Kings prepare themselves for Gavrikov's possible departure through free agency on Tuesday. While he's been talking regularly with Gavrikov's agent, Pat Brisson, Holland said after the draft that there wasn't any communication on Saturday, and struck an ominous tone about retaining the big-minute shutdown blueliner. 'Looking more and more like he's going to go to July 1,' Holland said. 'As we all know, I would anticipate that there'll be some players around the league that are UFA that are going to sign between now and Monday. Not sure if Gavrikov is one or if he's not. But if he's not, then we have to obviously wade into the market and get a defenseman or two.' Between Gavrikov walking to free agency and Spence being dealt, the Kings are suddenly looking at replacing two regulars from a 105-point team that came up short yet again in the first round of the playoffs. And if Gavrikov leaves, they will need at least one defender on each side. Putting him back with Mikey Anderson — Holland liked what he saw from their work together last season — would have been one answer to their dilemma. But it's more likely they'll need to sign free agents or consider a trade. The Kings want right-shot Brandt Clarke to take on an expanded role and they're counting on Drew Doughty to be healthier than last season, when he came back from a serious ankle fracture to play in the 4 Nations Face-Off but was less than 100 percent for the playoffs. And it was more than apparent Holland and head coach Jim Hiller didn't see the smaller-sized, 24-year-old Spence fitting in their vision of the blue line. Advertisement 'There's a lot of hope and belief that he's going to really develop into an important player on this team,' Holland said of Clarke. 'We're in a window right now where the team, in my opinion, can compete with the best teams in the National Hockey League. It's hard to have too many young defensemen on a team when you're trying to compete with the best teams in the National Hockey League. 'That's sort of the conversation I had with (agent) Peter MacTavish about Jordan Spence. Ultimately, I didn't see us having Brandt Clarke and Jordan Spence in the two and three holes on the right side. I believe there's room for one. Ultimately, we made a decision on Brandt Clarke and wanted to give Jordan Spence an opportunity to go elsewhere and to have an opportunity to further his career.' Holland previously said that Spence didn't make a trade request, but his conversations with MacTavish indicated that the agent felt Spence should be moved to a team on which he'd be a regular player. Even though Spence played 79 games last season, that wasn't going to be guaranteed in L.A., and his sharply reduced usage in the series against Edmonton pointed toward a potential separation. '(We) basically moved him because I'm not sure he would be in the lineup every night,' Holland said. As it stands, the Kings have their longtime pair of Anderson and Doughty, and Clarke played a lot with Joel Edmundson last season. Kyle Burroughs and Jacob Moverare also return, but both are viewed more as depth options who can step in when injuries arise. Whether it's on their second pairing or third, there are significant holes for the Kings to fill. 'I think there's some good defensemen,' Holland said, answering a question on gauging the market. 'But obviously there's 32 teams. I don't know if there's enough defensemen for 32 teams, but all 32 don't need a defenseman.' Advertisement There's also their interest in Mitch Marner. When subtracting Spence's $1.5 million cap hit, the Kings have what PuckPedia estimates is $23.2 million available for next season. They also must re-sign pending restricted free agent Alex Laferriere and would like to extend UFA forward Andrei Kuzmenko on a short-term deal. They also want an experienced backup goalie behind Darcy Kuemper. Getting all that done, and importing two defensemen, makes for a tighter fit when it comes to Marner. Also, Pacific Division rival Vegas is reportedly in talks with Toronto on a sign-and-trade transaction. Holland would not comment on his team having any contact with the Maple Leafs, opting not to 'go down that rabbit hole.' The Kings already won't be the same club that let a 2-0 series lead get away and watched Edmonton kick off another run to the Stanley Cup Final. With or without Marner, they'll still need defensemen. Let's sketch out who could be targets. Best options Bowen Byram, K'Andre Miller, Connor Murphy, Darnell Nurse Byram, 24, is ideal because of his age and his all-around game. A trade would break him out of the left-side logjam in Buffalo behind Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power. Miller, 25, is another arbitration-eligible RFA, and the New York Rangers are taking calls on the left-hand shot. Murphy, 32, is big, can play tough minutes, shoots right and only has one more year with a $4.4 million cap hit. And while you may laugh, Holland did sign the erratic but talented Nurse ($9.25 million AAV) to that outsized eight-year contract in 2021. He'd look better if Edmonton took back a third of that salary. Other options Mario Ferraro, Matt Dumba, Erik Karlsson, Mattias Samuelsson San Jose probably wouldn't like to move Ferraro, 26, to a division rival, but he'd be reinvigorated with a more competitive team in a contract year. Dumba, 30, has fallen off greatly in recent years but never underestimate the craving for a right-hand shot who can chew minutes in a third-pairing role. Karlsson, 35, is available and would move to a contender, but he's still too expensive, even with some of his salary already retained elsewhere. Samuelsson, 25, has five years left on his deal but could be a reclamation bet. Advertisement Best options Aaron Ekblad, Dante Fabbro, Nate Schmidt, Ivan Provorov Ekblad, 29, is the top free-agent defenseman if he hits the market after winning two titles with Florida. He can still handle heavy minutes in all situations and will be paid well. Fabbro, 27, doesn't have size but the puck-mover set himself for a nice payday after flourishing with Zach Werenski in Columbus. Schmidt, 33, is best suited in a third-pairing role but he's still a terrific skater and was excellent for the Panthers. Provorov, 28, can be effective as long as he isn't a team's No. 1 option. Other options Dmitry Orlov, Ryan Lindgren, Cody Ceci, John Klingberg, Brian Dumoulin Orlov, 33, struggled badly in the postseason for Carolina but he can still be effective in the right role. Lindgren, 27, has some hard miles on him but he'll put his body on the line as an undersized blueliner. Ceci, 31, could fit on a third pair with his size and right-handed shot. Klingberg, 32, is healthy again after dealing with hip issues for years, and he showed in the Oilers' run that he can still be a contributor. Dumoulin, 33, plays a steady, safe game but might want to remain with an Eastern team after his trade to New Jersey. (Top photo of Vladislav Gavrikov: Harry How / Getty Images)
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Why acquiring Jordan Spence could be a window into how Senators will run their offseason
OTTAWA — Jordan Spence knew something had to give when his ice time dwindled from an average of nearly 17 minutes per game in the regular season to between six and 11 minutes during the playoffs. He wanted a bigger role on the Los Angeles Kings, a team he had adored since childhood. He became a Kings fan watching Drew Doughty turn into one of the league's best defencemen, and he got his chance when he was drafted by them in 2019. But with Brandt Clarke, another young right-shot defenceman, in their system, a hurdle was in Spence's way. Advertisement 'When you're playing at a high level, you want to be relied on and trusted in any situation,' Spence said in a conference call on Saturday after his trade to the Senators. 'And, for me, I think I'm ready to take a big step. I'm ready to take a bigger role. It was unfortunate that L.A. couldn't give me that opportunity.' Spence wanted a change of scenery, a new market that would allow him to play more with increased responsibility. Senators general manager Steve Staios spotted an opportunity. And that it wouldn't cost too much to obtain him. It could be a glimpse into how the Senators might operate throughout the summer, unless something dramatic comes their way. The Senators came away from this weekend's draft with six players. But their biggest move was landing Spence in exchange for a third-round pick (acquired from Nashville after Ottawa traded down from No. 21 to No. 23) and a sixth-round pick in next year's draft (which initially belonged to Colorado). Moving down two spots in the first round allowed the Senators to acquire a 24-year-old who was the third-highest-scoring defenceman on his team behind Clarke and Vladislav Gavrikov, with four goals and 28 points. Even after accounting for usage (extremely soft), model is still enamoured by Jordan Spence. At best, he makes a jump to the top four. At worst, he keeps crushing easy minutes — something Ottawa does desperately need. Good bet by the Sens. — dom 📈 (@domluszczyszyn) June 28, 2025 'Every chance at the draft, free agency, you look at opportunities to try and make your team better,' Staios said. 'Sometimes it doesn't land. As the draft went on, we really liked the player that kind of was sliding to our pick (at No. 21). … I felt, at that point in time, if we were going to trade back in consulting with (head scout) Don Boyd and scouts, that we could gain an asset. Advertisement 'Knowing what it would take to be able to get him, to acquire him, it lined up with the acquisition return that we got from trading back. So, we were able to parlay that into a phone conversation with L.A. and be able to acquire Jordan Spence.' Acquiring Spence is far from a blockbuster, especially considering the other trades made this weekend. It wasn't even the biggest trade made on Day 2. The Red Wings' acquisition of John Gibson from Anaheim holds that distinction, but only because the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights didn't complete a trade involving Mitch Marner on Saturday. But the Spence trade indicates how the Sens could operate this offseason, with subtle tweaks to the roster without sacrificing much of their core. Staios said Saturday that it would likely be his modus operandi for the free-agent market once it opens up on July 1. That means if Staios wants to take it a step further, it will have to be via trade. Staios said 'yes' when asked if he'd be open to making another trade, but cautioned that it's not something he's actively looking to do. But Staios has shown he's unafraid of making a move if the opportunity presents itself, and when it seems like no one expects him to do anything of significance, despite limits on salary-cap space or assets at his disposal. 'I don't, honestly, think I could have said to you a week ago that we'd had an opportunity to acquire Jordan Spence at the draft,' Staios said. 'Once they come up, you've got to be prepared, and again, have the flexibility to be able to take advantage of a situation where you can add something to the group.' Ottawa's $9.25 million cap space available, per PuckPedia, limits them on the free agent market when it comes to luring a big fish. Not to mention, the Senators want to retain as much cap flexibility as possible. Yes, they could move some salary off the active roster, such as Carter Yakemchuk's entry-level deal. But the Sens still intend to sign pending free agent Claude Giroux. Advertisement Staios said Saturday, when asked for an update, that he was 'hoping to hear back' from Giroux and his camp. Despite whatever gap may remain between the Sens and Giroux's camp, both sides want to get a deal done. So while some despair may linger over Giroux's future, that could change quickly. In Spence, Ottawa has a depth defenceman and right-shot who can take up minutes if Nick Jensen needs more time to recuperate from his hip injury. Natural Stat Trick says Spence has good underlying metrics, posting a 56.80 Corsi For and a 48.8 expected goals for percentage when he's on the ice at five-on-five. Slotting Spence alongside Jake Sanderson on a top pairing would be a fascinating way to ease him into the lineup. And if Jensen is ready to play, and the Sens don't want to split up Sanderson and Artem Zub, Spence could provide more mobility and scoring alongside Tyler Kleven. On top of all that, Spence could be an alternate option for their power play, which already has Sanderson and Thomas Chabot as quarterbacks. The Senators needed another defensive option and could've sought a cost-effective option on the free-agent market. Instead, they get that in Spence, who carries a $1.5 million cap hit through 2026. On a team that could use more mobility and offence from its back end, Spence's skillset improves their defensive group. 'Maybe I could have a better opportunity in Ottawa and have a bigger role,' Spence said. 'Obviously, it all depends on my performance. But I'm going to have a big summer. And I'm excited to go to Ottawa this year and to have a good season.' Ottawa's offence, however, could still use another younger weapon up front despite the re-signing of Fabian Zetterlund this month. The Senators' struggles in five-on-five scoring are well-documented. A goal-scoring winger who could either play to the right of Tim Stützle or the left of Dylan Cozens would bolster Ottawa's forward group. It would allow older players such as David Perron to slide down the lineup — and potentially Giroux, if it came to that. Scoring wingers are available on the trade market, if Chris Johnston's board is any indication. Jason Robertson, Viktor Arvidsson, and Jared McCann are among the handful of players potentially available. That leaves the fourth line — with no guarantees that Adam Gaudette, Nick Cousins or Matthew Highmore will be back — to be plugged with either depth signings or young players from Belleville to take their spots. 'Depending on how things unfold and the conversations that we have,' Staios said. 'Any opportunity we have to improve our team, that's my job to seek those out and make sure that I have all the information.' That approach allowed Staios to acquire an asset such as Spence at this year's draft. It could serve him well as the Senators enter July, regardless of how much cap space is at their disposal. (Photo of Jordan Spence: Harry How / Getty Images)
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ottawa Senators Acquire Defenseman Jordan Spence From Los Angeles
The Ottawa Senators continue to load up on right-shot defensemen. On Saturday afternoon, on day two of the 2025 NHL Draft, they acquired 24-year-old defenseman Jordan Spence from the Los Angeles Kings. In return, they give up the 67th overall pick and a sixth-round selection in 2026 (originally Colorado's). Advertisement Spence appeared in 79 regular season games with Los Angeles in 2024-25, putting up four goals and 28 points, along with a plus-23 rating. In 180 career NHL games, Spence has collected eight goals and 61 points. He is signed for the 2025-26 NHL season with a contract that carries an AAV of $1.5 million. Born in Manly, Australia (a Manly Man), Spence was a fourth-round selection (95th overall) by Los Angeles in the 2019 NHL Draft. He appeared in 160 games in the QMJHL with Moncton and Val-d'Or. 11 days ago, The Hockey News/Ottawa's Graeme Nichols wrote about Spence as a possibility for the Senators after Sporrtsnet's Elliotte Friedman mentioned the Kings may be willing to move Spence. Summer Trade Targets: Would Kings Defenceman Jordan Spence Be A Fit With The Ottawa Senators? Summer Trade Targets: Would Kings Defenceman Jordan Spence Be A Fit With The Ottawa Senators? When outlining the prospective right defencemen the Ottawa Senators could potentially target in a trade this summer, one of the names that I've mentioned offhand is Jordan Spence of the Los Angeles Kings. Advertisement From Nichols: Spence's underlying metrics were excellent. Granted, he played sheltered minutes on one of the better defensive teams in the league, so that is an obvious consideration to factor in. When Spence was on the ice at five-on-five per NaturalStatTrick, the Kings generated 56.80 percent of the shots (CF%), 56.98 percent of the shots on goal (SF%), 65.43 percent of the total goals (GF%), and 56.88 percent of the expected goals (xGF%). Image credit: The problem with Spence is that he is listed at 5'11" and 180 lbs. He defends almost exclusively through his skating, gap control and stick placement, but his strong underlying possession metrics are driven principally by his excellent puck-moving ability. According to the Zach Dooley, "no Kings blueliner had a higher success rate of exiting the defensive zone this season via a carry-out or a pass than Spence did, at just shy of 90 percent." Advertisement Highly efficient exits mean fewer minutes spent defending within the defensive zone. In essence, Spence's success is not that dissimilar from what makes Nick Jensen so effective. Like Ken Holland, however, it certainly feels like the Senators have emphasized adding a measure of size and physicality to their lineup. It may also be a coincidence, but it was also an observation of their selections at the 2024 NHL Draft. With puck-movers like Thomas Chabot and Jake Sanderson already in the lineup on Spence's opposite side, the need for an undersized puck-mover just is not there. Circumstances may change if Jensen's recovery from offseason hip surgery goes well and he is ready for training camp. The organization could decide that a puck-mover to partner with Tyler Kleven as an alternative to Nik Matinpalo is ideal. And suddenly, we may have some interesting battles shaping up at training camp this fall. Not only that, but the local sports radio station may have a new spokesperson for their omnipresent Spence Diamonds ads. Advertisement Steve Warne & Graeme Nichols The Hockey News/Ottawa Banner image credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Ottawa Senators Coach Travis Green on Claude Giroux: 'I Want Him Back' Sens Nation Podcast: Ex-Senator Brendan Bell Talks Sens, Giroux, and NHL Draft Will the Senators Go Shopping For a New Backup Goalie? Senators UFA Claude Giroux: Still Easily A Top-Six Forward In Ottawa Ottawa Senators 2025 First-Round Selection Says He Models His Game After Jake Sanderson
